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July 17, 2010

G91: Red Sox 3, Rangers 2 (11)

Kevin Youkilis's double with two outs in the bottom of the ninth tied the game and his sacrifice fly in the eleventh brought in the winning run. Marco Scutaro scored the run in both innings.

After Lackey (7-7-2-2-3, 115) left, the bullpen allowed only one baserunner in four innings. Daniel Bard walked Michael Young to start the eighth. but after Ian Kinsler popped up a bunt attempt, Young was erased on a double play. Texas went in order against Jonathan Papelbon (9th and 10th) and Manny Delcarmen (11th).

Lee (9-6-2-1*-6, 105) allowed a run in the first (Darnell McDonald doubled and David Ortiz singled), but Boston could do nothing against him until the ninth. Scutaro singled and McDonald bunted him to second. Ortiz battled through an eight-pitch at-bat and grounded out to second, moving Scutaro to third. Yook doubled to left to tie the game.

* Lee's walk was an intentional pass to Adrian Beltre in the ninth, so his number of non-intentional walks this season (in 121.1 innings) remains at six. Lackey walked six batters in less than five innings in his July 10 start against the Blue Jays.)

Alexi Ogando got the Sox in order in the tenth, although he nearly lost the game on his first pitch, which Mike Cameron nearly hit into the Sox bullpen. Nelson Cruz reached over the short wall to snare it. Ogando walked Scutaro on five pitches to start the 11th. McDonald again bunted and Ogando tried to go to second. His throw was low and skipped into left field for an error. With runners at second and third, Ortiz was walked intentionally and Darren O'Day came into the bases loaded/no out jam. Youkilis lofted a 2-1 pitch to center and Scutaro scored standing up.

Lackey got the first two outs in the sixth, then gave up a single, walk, single, single before getting out of trouble.

The Rays beat the Yankees 10-5 (Reid Brignac had two dongs and 5 RBI), so Boston moved back to 5.5 GB. Tampa Bay is 2 GB.